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Athens News Courier (Newspaper) - January 24, 2009, Athens, Alabama
Continuing coverage of County Basketlmll Tournament PAGE IBThe News CourierSening Athens and Limestone County: A Connnnnitv ol tradition and Future
Saturday, January 24, 2001>
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Index
Classifieds.......4B
Comics..........3B
Ledger..........4A
Obituaries.......2A
Robert M. Penney Ricky Lee Turner
Sports IB
Weather.........2A
7 *69847 00001 6
Soldier’s body comes home
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHANNEL 48
Funeral set for Pfc. Turner; memorial in Elkmont today
By Kelly Kazfk
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American flags flew Friday as about 20 riders with the Patriot Guard motorcycle group escorted a hearse carrying the body of Athens soldier Pfc. Ricky Lee Turner from Signature Aviation at Huntsville International Airport to Hazel Green Funeral Home.
Turner, 20, was killed near Baghdad, Iraq, on Jan. 16 when an improvised exploding device struck the convoy in which he was riding, according to a spokeswoman with the 82nd Airborne Division.
The plane carrying Turner’s body landed about an hour later than expected, just before 1:30 p.m., as about 10 family members and friends waited. His casket was draped with a flag, then placed into a waiting hearse.
Madison and Huntsville law officers and State Troopers assisted in escorting the hearse.
Upon arrival at the funeral home, military personnel removed the flag-draped casket from the hearse and carried it inside.
Patriot Guard riders formed a line holding large American flags and law officers saluted as the casket passed.
Dan O’Boyle with Redstone Arsenal was at the airport representing the Army.
“We in the Army, and especially here at Redstone, feel a deep sense of loss,” O’Boyle said. “Wfe have Casualty Assistance Officers assigned to assist the family during this difficult time. Pfc. Ricky Turner superbly demonstrated our seven Army values: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, personal courage. We are committed to frdfill our obligations and properly
See Soldier, page 2A
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHANNEL 48
Top, the hearse carrying the body of Pfc. Ricky Lee Turner of Athens leaves Huntsville International Airport. Directly above, Turner's fannily, from left, his cousin Sandy Turner holding her daughter Kailee, and grandmother Dorothy Turner await the plane's arrival. Below, Patriot Guard riders park motorcycles outside Hazel Green Funeral Home and form a line as the casket is carried inside by military personnel.
NEWS COURIER/KIH RYNOERS
Judge helps suppress prisoner s motion
By Je:an Coi.e
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Prisoner Mark Steven Keener Jr. just had his day in court and was headed back to the Limestone County Jail van when he decided to make a break for it.
Wearing his jail-issued black and whites and handcuffs, Keener, 20, of 210 Cloverleaf Drive, Athens, zipped across the east lawn of the Limestone County Courthouse, said Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely. A deputy who just happened to be at the courthouse
Mark S. Keener Jr.
at the time took up chase.
Keener had reached Hendricks-Patton furniture store and the railroad tracks on Washington Street when ... here come the judge.
Athens Municipal Judge Donald Mansell, who was driving near the store, jumped out to help the deputy apprehend the escapee, the sheriff said.
Keener was among a group of inmates driven to court in a van Friday and expected to return following court. He had appeared before a judge on five oounts ci second-degree possession of a foKgpd instrument. He is accused of cashing $300 in • checks stolen frtnn his girifiicnd’s grand-
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Lindsay Lane School will hold open house
By Karen MfDDLhrroN
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Eric Pugh, associate pastor of Lindsay I^ne Baptist Church, said last week that there has been heavy interest in the church-sponsored Lindsay Lane Christian Academy on campus.
“We’ve had a lot of people pick up applications, but so far we haven’t had that many returned,” said Pi«h.
Tlie academy is accepting students in kinder-through sixth grade. Church officials will host an qpen hcaise at the facility Thursday night.
The establishment of the school has not been without controversy. A large contingency of sur-
See School, page 3A
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